Can-filling machine



M. HOEHEIMER. CAN mum; MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY2,19I8.,

4 SHEETS-SHEET l- Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

M. HOFHEI MER.

CAN FILLING. MACHINE. APPLlCA"[ l0NFlLED MA-Y 2, 19ua.

Patented Febb 1,19 2 l.

4 SHEET$-SHEET 2.

} Patented Feb. 1,1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lumen norn'munn, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND;

CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed ma 2, 1918. Serial No. 282,054.

measure or deliver a predetermined quantity of material to the cans being filled and the said invention is designed primarily for use in transferring paint from a large container to small cans.

An object of this invention is to produce a can filling machine which is readily adjustable for the purpose of varying or changing the quantity of material, such as paint, which is delivered to cans, thus making it possible to expeditiously adjust the apparatus to deliver paint for filling cans of different sizes from a container vhaving a batch of paint of a certain color or shade. A further object of this invention is to provide a measuring device having novel means whereby the mechanism is adjustable toincrease or diminish the amount of material to be delivered, the same being pro-- portional to the cans or receptacles tobe filled, and the sand mechanlsm belng effective to increase or restrict the movementor throw of a piston designed to dra-wthe fluidratus can be readily cleaned so that paints of different colors may be operated upon successively without the paint of one color being affected by a paint which had been previously run through the apparatus, so. that it is possible to dispose of the whole or part of the paint of a certain shade and without undue trouble put the apparatus in condition D for running paint of another shade through it, the same being accompllshed without, in apy way, impalring the apparatus and without employment of costly means to accomplish the end.

A still further object of this invention is to provide discharge tubes or nozzles of different sizes to be used in connection with cans of difierent sizes so that the flow of flllld or paint can be directed to small or large openlngs when the receptacle is to be filled, and the invention also contemplates the provision of novel means for preventing the sealing of the nozzle by capillary attraction and insuring the flow of paint from the said nozzle by gravity after the forcing mechanism has come to rest. The invention furthermore includes the provision of novel means for arresting the drippings and discharging accumulated drippings into a receptelicle where they can be collected for disposa A still further object of the invention is to provide a discharge ipe having a baflle wall extending upward y from its bottom, so that only that fluid or paint which has passed the baflie will gravitate from the discharge nozzle and by this means, undue dripping is obviated.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel means for regulating the speed of operation of the apparatus and providing a motor with interposed power transmittlng mechanism having ready means of adjustment for increasing or d1- minishing the revolutions of the driving means as compared with the revolutions of the motor shaft and the interposed mechanism.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel means for operating the liquid transmitting or moving means and the drip collector synchronously and furthermore to provide novel means for moving cans or receptacles in time with the liquid moving means so that the cans or receptacles will be at predetermined positions at the time the paint or fluid is forced from the measuring receptacle.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 illustrates a View in elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a top plan view, the same being partly in section;

Fig. 3 illustrates a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with part of the can moving mechanism and certain operating parts I omitted;

Fig. 4 illustrates a view in elevation partly in section ofone side of the machine, and

Fig. 5 illustrates a view in elevation of the discharge nozzles.

In these drawings 10 denotes a frame which is preferably made u' of tubular sections and joints, although do not wish to be restricted with respect to the construction, configuration or proportions of the said frame. A motor 11 is supported on a sill 12 attached to the frame and the said motor drives a power transmitting. wheel 13 which is splined on the shaft 14. A friction wheel 15, preferably of some fibrous material is secured on the splined shaft 14 and travels in engagement with a friction disk 16, so that power is transmitted from the motor to the operating parts of the mechanism by these members, the said friction wheel being adjustable on the face of the friction disk, so that it may be moved nearer to the periphery of the said friction disk or toward the axis thereof, according to the revolutions desired; As a means for effecting an adjustment and retention of the shaft, after it is adjusted, the shaft is provided with threads 17 engaged by a nut 18, so that as the nut is turned, the shaft is thrust axially, it being seen that the wheel 13 has a bracket 19 secured to it and embracing the nut 18 so that aS the nut is rotated, the shaft is moved axially. 20 illustrates a lock nut which will hold the shaft at different positions of adjustment.

The friction disk 16 is attached to a shaft 21 and the said shaft has a beveled 'pinion 22 arm are mounted on a shaft 29, which shaft is supported by the hanging bracket 30, which bracket terminates in a bearing 31 for the shaft 21, and the said bracket is strengthened by a brace 32 secured to the frame. The cam 25 is a grooved cam and the cam 26 is a surface cam and their relation to other parts of the mechanism will be resentlv explained.

he crank arm has a longitudinally disposed groove 33 which forms a seat and way for the reception of a sliding block 34 and the said block has a wrist pin 35 to which a pitman 36 is connected, the said pitman being attached to a piston rod 37 by the collar 38 which has a wrist in on which the pitman is pivoted. The sliding block 34 has a threaded aperture 38 in which an adjustmg screw 39 is threaded, the said adjfisting screw being trunnioned at its lower end 40 in the crank arm or in a plate 41 secured to the said crank arm. Near the upper end of the screw, there is'a trunnion 42 which rotates in an aperture of the plate 43 of the crank arm and the said end of the said screw has a wheel 43 fixed to it by which it may be turned for moving the block longitudinally of the crank arm, so that it may be brought nearer to or farther from the center of the crank arm for the purpose of increasin or diminishing the throw of the pitman w ich 'operates the pis on rod of the pump. After adjustments have been attained, a lock nut 44 may be employed to hold the screw at different positions of adjustment in a manner well known. In order to make it possible to set the sliding block so that the piston rod will be given a predetermined movement, graduations 45 may be arranged on the surface of the crank arm and an indicator such as an arrow 46 may be applied to the surface of the sliding block so that when the indicator is brought into alinement or registry with the graduations or any one of the graduations, the operator will know the amount of fluid which will be delivered when the parts are in such adjustment. the present embodiment of the invention, it is the purpose of the inventor to have these graduations indicating gallons or fractions of gallons which will be moved at each impulse or operation of the pump, it being understood that the piston rod is one element of the pump and that it is connected to a piston 47 wlthin the cylinder 48, here shown as being supported in horizontal position by the frame.

The cylinder has a head 52 through which the piston rod operates and the opposite end of the cylinder is supplied with an intake nozzle 53 threaded as at 54 to receive a hose or pipe coupling which will lead to the source of supply so that upon a piston being retracted or moved toward the rod under the endof the cylinder, paint or fluid will way to t be drawn into the cylinder. The joint or coupling between the nipple and the cylinder is provided with a valve seat .55 adapted to engage a valve 56, the said valve having a stem projecting upwardly and being suitably guided so that it will operate to seat and unseat as the piston is moved. The valve has a valve stem 57 which constitutes a guiding means for the valve and its upper end has a collar 58 on it engaged by an arm 59 and the said arm is oscillatably mounted on a shaft 60 which rojects through the head 61 of the cylin er and is journaled therein, the said shaft .being operated by the handle 62 on the outside of the cylinder.

A discharge spout 63 communicates with the cylinder at the to through the coupling 65 and said coupling as a valve seat 66 engaged by a valve 67 which will seat and unseat so as to close when the piston is moved inward and open when the piston is moved outward and forcing liquid or paint from the cylinder so that the said paint may find its he discharge pipe 63 and from there to the nozzle head 68. The valve 67 has a stem 69 which is in alinement with the stem 71 extending from it and the nozzle head 68 is rotatably mounted on it, said nozzle head having a plurality of nozzles or branches 72, v

73, 7 and 75 of diflerent bores or diameters which may be moved so that they aline or register with the dischar e spout for the purpose of fillin cans of iflerent sizes and the nozzle head is held at different positions of adjustment by the spring 76 which encircles the shaft 71 and bears against the nut 77 on the said shaft and against the nozzle head to force the nozzle head normally inward, there being a pin and socket connection between the nozzle head and the discharge spout which will hold the head against rotatlon except when it is pulled outwardly against the action of the spring 76 to cause dislodgment of the pin from the socket. It is immaterial which member carries the pin and which member has the sockets as the principle of operation will be the same in any event, but in the present embodiment of the invention, the head is shown as having a plurality of sockets 78 and the discharge spout has the pin 79 adapted to enter one of the sockets when the head is moved for the purpose of brin 'ng a certain nozzle into registry with t e discharge spout.

As a means for preventing dripping of matekial which would soil the cans or the table on which the cans are moved, as will presently appear, a drip collecting trough .80

is supplied to coact or move with other parts mounted on a pivot'82 of a bracket 83 and the rear end of said extension is bifurcated 'to form a recess 84 which receives a flange 85 of a collar 86 and the said flange is moved by a rod 87 to communicate osci latory motion to the trough. At the rear of the trough, there is a drip hole 88 which permits fluid or paint which has accumulated in the trough to escape and gravitate into a receptacle 89 and the rece tacle is held by a bracket 90 carried by tl ie frame.

Tlfe rod 87 reciprocates in guides 91 of the frame and it is operated by the came 26 through the medium of the coupling 92 and the rod 93, which latter carries a cam-engaging roller 94. The manner of transmitting motion from the cam to the trough may be modified, but in the present embodiment, the cam is so thrown or shaped as to move the rod outwardly and oscillate the trough so that it will move under the discharge nozzle at the time the pitman is moving rearwardly to carry the piston in the cylinder in a direction to draw afresh charge offluid into the cylinder and it is then that the dripping fluid might reach the table or the next succeeding can and result in daubing the table or can.

A spring 95 encircles the rod 87 and bears against the collar 96 and one of the guides 91, the said spring being effective to hold the cam wheel in engagement with the cam and move the trough from under the discharge nozzle when the depressed face of the cam permits it. The cam 25 reciprocates the cam rod 97 and a link 98 is pivoted to the cam rod and to a lever 99, which lever is oscillatably mounted on a vertically disposed stud 100. The lever 99 has a link 101 at its end by which it is connected to a head 102 oscillatable on guide rods 103.

The link 101 has a sleeve101' which is adjustable on the vertically disposed rod 101 attached to the outer end of the lever 99, so that the sleeve 101 may slide on the rod to compensate for the movement of the table which is of course vertically adjustable for the purpose of accommodating cans of different heights. The table is shown as hav ing screw threaded supporting rods A which are suitably guided on the frame and they have beveled gear wheels B engaged by gear wheels-C on the shaft D which shaft is operated by a crank E for rotating the said shaft in either direction to raise or lower the table, according to the requirements. crank is held against movement by a pin F which enters an aperture in the disk C when I the spring H forces the said pin in the said seat and as the table is elevated or lowered, the sliding collar 101 is free to move longitudinally of the rod 101".

The head has a recess 104; in which an arm 105 is seated and held'by a set screw 106, the said arm constituting a support and carrier for the block or body 107, it being understood that the block 107 is adjustable on the rod and that it is held at different positions of adjustment on the said rod by the set screw 108. The block 107 has a pawl 109 connected to it by the pivot 110 so that the pawl may oscillate and one end of the pawl is under pull of the spring 111 which is connected to it and to a stud 112 carried by the block 107 and the degree of movement which may be imparted to the pawl is limited by a stop pin 113 into engagement with which the pawl is pulled by the spring. It will be seen from the foregoing description, therefore, that as the lever 99 oscillat/es, it will communicate motion to the block 102 and through the medium of the rod 105, motion will also be communicated to the block 107 and the parts associated with it.

The table 114 which is designed to support cans to be moved into position under the nozzle or that nozzle which is set to discharge material has, in the present embodiment of the invention, two stud shafts or studs 115 and 116 on which sprocket wheels 117 and 118 are mounted respectively and these sprocket wheels are engaged by a sprocket chain 119, the said sprocket chain being made up of links with interposed arms 120 pivotally connected to certain of the links. The arms are of irregular configuration, that is to say, they are bent to form recesses 121 which form seats for the cans to be engaged and moved as the arms travel. Each arm has a stud 122 which, in turn, is engaged by the end of the pawl 109, the end of the said pawl being provided with a recess 123 to form a seat for the reception of the studs of the arms.

The throw of the lever 99 is such as to move cans under the discharge nozzle successively and provision is made for moving cans of large or small diameter, yet centering them with respect to the discharge nozzle, the said adjustment being accomplished through the medium of the set screw 109 by which the block 107 may move with relation to the lever.

In order that it may be understood how the invention is carried into practice in this regard it may be stated that when, for example, a lot of large cans have been filled and it is desired .to fill a lot of smaller cans, one of the latter will be placed centrally under the discharge nozzle and the set screw 108 will be released and the block 107 shifted until the crotch or recess of the arm 120 comes in contact with the can. The set screw is then tightened and the machine will be operated so that successive cans are brought into proper position with relation to the discharge nozzle, it bein observed that the travel of the sprocket chain remains always the same for each operation, while the distances between the arms are uniform so that when the mechanism is adjusted for one can of any size, each similar can thereafter will be accurately centered under the nozzle.

The nozzles are threaded externally for the purpose of effecting the coupling of a hose or pipe which may be used for circulating a cleansing fluid through the pump and valve casings or ports, this bein efi'ected by threading a hose on the inta e nozale and having the hose from the discharge nozzle to the intake nozzle inserted in a receptacle containing gasolene or other paint solvent and then operating the pump so as to circulate the cleansing fluid 1n the same path as the paint has been caused to travel by the operation of the said pump. It has been found in practice that comparatively few impulses of the ump will suffice to cause the cleansing fluid to remove de sits of paint from the surfaces of the cylinder, piston and pipes and make the apparatus ready for operation on paints of other colors and this can be accomplished with the use of comparatively little cleansing fluid since it can be recirculated until traces of paint deposit are removed.

The construction and operation of the apparatus will, it is thought, he understood from the foregoing description of the parts of the apparatus and the functions which have been ascribed to them, but in order to insure an understanding of the operation, it may be stated that when a batch of paint has been prepared for packing, the hoseor pipe from the intake nozzle will be inserted in the receptacle containing the paint and the can supporting table and the can conveyer thereon will be adjusted with relation to the discharge nozzle so that a can moving on the table can pass under the discharge nozzle, the adjustment of the table being attained by the elevating and lowering means which have been described, whereas the adjustment of the conveyer for moving cans of a certain diameter will be effected through the adjustment of the can engaging arms, a description of which has been given.

Having in mind then, the capacity of the cans to be filled, the piston operating pitman will be adjusted on the said piston or the sliding block to which the said pitman is connected will be adjusted on the crank arm according to the graduations on the crank arm so that the piston will be given a movement to insure t e drawing of an amount of pamt within the cylinder which will fill the can to be packed, after which the power may be applied to drive the mechanism. It is desirable to operate the mechanism as rapidly as possible without splashing the fluid and that will depend to some extent upon the thickness of the fluid and in order to provide for different speeds, the friction wheel and friction disk are supplied, the shaft of the said friction wheel having means whereby it can be adjusted to increase or diminish the revolutions of the disk.

As the piston reciprocates and is drawn rearwardly, a given quantity of paint will be drawn into the cylinder through the valve at the intake nipple and the valve at the discharge spout will, of course, be closed. Upon movement of the piston in the 0 pcsite direction, the valves will be oppositely influenced and the discharge valve will be opened to permit the paint to enter the dis-- charge spout from which it will pass to the nozzle into the can. When the piston has reached the limit of its outward stroke, fluid or paint which has passed the bafiie, will descend by gravity, but there will be no dripping of material from the discharge spout proper, as the bathe will correct any fault of that kind. The cams and'the connections are so arranged and timed that on the return movement of .the piston, the rod which is connected to operate the drain trough will oscillate the trough so as to force the uter end thereof under the nozzle to catch any drippings which may be discharged while the cans are being shifted for the purpose of removing the fi led can and bringing an empty one into position to be filled, and the cam which operates the trough is also so timed that it wil cause the trough to move out of alinement with the dischar nozzle when the piston starts to again eliver fluid through the discharge pipe, it being understood also that the cam which operates the lever for actuating the conveyer is likewise timed to move a can while the trough is under the dischar nozzle, and, therefore, the movement 0 the can into place, its removal after it is filled, the means for forcing the fluid into the can, are automatically accomplished, and the provision for setting the parts of the apparatus to gain the result may be expeditiously accomplished.

I have used the terms paint, fluid or liquid in this specification and while the apparatus is primarily designed for filling cans with paint, it can operate on other fluids and,

therefore, the terms are used synonymously and without conflict.

I claim- 1. In a can filling machine, a cylinder having inlet and discharge ports, a piston and piston rod operating therein, a rotary member having a crank arm and cams associated with it, means for connecting the M and mom piston rod and crank arm a cam rod operated by each of the said cams, a nozzle through which the cylinderdischarges, a troug means. for connecting a cam rod to the trough for oscillating the trough whereby it will move under or away from the nozzle, can movin mechanism operated by the other cam ro and means for driving the rotary member.

2. In a can filling machine, a cylinder havin inlet and discharge ports, a piston and plston rod operating therein, a rotary member having a crank arm and cams associated with it, means for connecting the piston rod and crank arm, a cam rod operated by each of the said cams, a nozzle through which the cylinder discharges, a trough, means for connecting a cam rod to the trough for oscillating the trough whereby it will move under or away from the nozzle, a can conveyer operated by the other cam rod including can engaging arms, a chain to which the arms are connected, a reciprocating block, a lever interposed between the cam rod and said reciprocating block for moving the said block, means carried by the said reciprocating block for communicating motion to the. cam arms, and meansfor driving the rotary member.

3. In a can fillin machine, a cylinder having intake and ischarge ports, valves for controlling the said ports, a discharge spout communicating with the discharge port, a nozzle in communication with the discharge spout, a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod connected thereto and extending eyond the cylinder, a pitman connected to the piston rod, a crank arm, means for adjustably connecting the pitman to the crank arm to increase or diminish the throw of the piston rod, cams operating in conjunction .with the crank arm, a drip trough, means for pivotally supporting the dr1p trough whereby it will move into or out of salinement with the discharge nozzle, a cam rod operated by one of the cams and connected to the trough for oscillating the said trough, a cam rod reciprocated b the other cam, a

lever, means for pivota y supporting the lever, means for communlcating the motion of the second mentioned cam rod to the said lever, a reciprocating member, means for communicating the motion of the lever to the reciprocatin member, a table in conjunction with w ich the said reciprocating member moves, and a can conveying mechanism associated with said reciprocating member and operated thereby.

' 4. In a can filling machine, a cylinder having inlet and discharge ports, a piston er having a crank arm and cams associated with it, means for connecting the piston rod and crank arm, a cam rod operated. by each of the said cams, a nozzle piston rod operating therein, a rotary through which the cylinder discharges, a trough, means for connecting a cam rod to the trough for oscillating the trough wherevice carried by the reciprocating member adapted to communicate motion to the arms successively, means for moving the reciprocating member and means for applying power to the machine.

5. In a can filling machine, a cylinder havin inlet and discharge ports, a piston and piston rod operating therein, a rotary member having a crank arm and cams associated with it, means for connecting the piston rod and crank arm, a cam rod operated by each of the said cams, a nozzle through which the cylinder discharges, a trough, means for connecting a cam rod to the trough for oscillating the trough whereby it will move under or away from the nozzle, can moving mechanism operated by the other cam rod, a table, shafts extending upwardly therefrom, Wheels rotatably mounted on the shaft, a flexible member extending around the said wheels, arms carried by the flexible member, a reciprocating member, means for guiding the re'ciprocatmg I member with relation to the table and said flexible member, means carried by the reciprocating member for engaging the arms successively for moving said arms, means for moving the reciprocating member, and means for applying power to the machine 6. In a can filhng machine, a cylinder havin inlet and discharge ports, a piston and piston rod operating therein, a rotary member having a crank arm and cams associated with it, means for connecting the piston rod and cranlr'arm, a cam rod operated by each of the said came, a nozzle through. which the cylinder discharges, a trough, means for connecting a cam rod to the trough for oscillating the trough wherebyit will move under or away from the noz- 'z e can moving mechanism operated by the other cam rod, a table, shafts extending upwardly therefrom, wheels mounted on the shaft, .a flexible member engaging said wheels, arms projecting from the flexible member adapted to engage cans, studs on the said arms, a reciprocating member, a pawl pivotally connected to the said reciprocat mg member, means for holding the nose of the pawl in position to on age studs of the arms, means for moving t e reciprocating member, and means for applying power to the machine.

7. In a can filling machine, a cylinder having inlet and discharge ports, a piston and iston rod operating therein, a rotary mem or having a crank arm and cams associated with it, means for connecting the piston rod and crank arm, a cam rod operated by each of the said cams, a nozzle throu h which the cylinder discharges, a troug 1, means for connecting a cam rod to the trough for oscillating the trough whereby it will. move under or away from the nozzle, can moving mechanism operated by the other cam rod, a table, shafts extending upwardly therefrom, wheels mounted on the shaft, a flexible member engagin said wheels, arms projecting from the dexible member adapted to engage cans, studs on the said arms, a reciprocating member, a pawl pivotally connected to the said reciprocating member, means for holding the nose of the pawl in position to engage the studs of the arms, means for moving the reciprocating member, means for adjusting the reciprocating member with relation to the means for moving it, and means for applying power to the machine.

8. In a can filling machine, a' cylinder having inlet and discharge ports, a piston and piston rod operating therein, a rotary member having a crank arm and cams associated with it, means for connecting the g the trough for oscillating the trough whereb it will move under or away from the noz-. z e, can moving mechanism operated by the other cam rod, a table, shafts rising therefrom, wheels mounted on the shaft, :1, chain operating over the said wheels, arms carrled by the said chain, studs on the said arms, a reciprocating member; means for guiding the reciprocating member with relation to the table and the chain, a block carried by the reciprocating member, a pawl pivotally connected to the block, means for adjusting the block with relation to the reciprocating member, means for holding the pawl in engagement with the studs of the arms, means for moving the reciprocating member, and means for applying power to the machine.

9. In a can filling machine, a cylinder having inlet and discharge ports, a piston and piston rod operating therein, a rotary mem r having a crank arm and cams associated with it, means for connecting the piston rod and. crank arm, a cam rod operated by each of the said cams, a nozzle throug which the cylinder discharges, a troug means for connecting a cam rod to the trough for oscillating the trough whereby it will move under or away from the nozzle, can moving mechanism operated by the other cam rod, a table, shafts extending upwardly therefrom, wheels on the shaft, a

sprocket chain engaging the wheels, arms ed to the rod, means carried by the block for projecting from the said chain, said arms engaging the studs of the arms successively, having studs thereon, a reciprocating memmeans for moving the reciprocating member,

ber, means for guiding the reciprocating and means for applying power to the ma 5 member with relation to the tableand the chine.

sprocket chain, a rod carried by the reciproeating member, a block adjustably connect- MAURICE HOFHEIMER. 

